DEAR HARRIETTE: I have become so used to having the internet at my fingertips that I sometimes find myself mindlessly scrolling social media for hours, regardless of how I'm feeling. It's a never-ending cycle; as soon as I put my phone down, I quickly pick it back up again. This has had an incredibly detrimental effect on my mental health, as it’s caused me to become more anxious and stressed out.
Unfortunately, this same medium also happens to be my livelihood -- the very thing that allows me to make a living and survive. How can I cope with being chronically online while maintaining my well-being? -- Need a Break
DEAR NEED A BREAK: Here’s where you must engage discipline. Obviously, you have to do your job. Design a schedule for your work. What time periods must you be online and using social media? Be specific and clear as you map out your day. Do your work, and then immediately disengage. Put your device down, preferably out of reach. Stand up and walk around. Read a book. Do an exercise. Talk to a colleague or friend. For your personal time, set yourself a timer for using social media. Set an alarm for a one-hour window of usage. When the alarm goes off, shut down your device. Get up. Move around and disrupt your pattern of internet engagement. It will take time for you to wean yourself off of using social media for fun, but you can do it.